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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. M. OLIVER.

FIFTH WHEEL. No. 391,914. Patented Oct. 30, 1888.

Henry 516.0721/897 @01 j M, BYQWMATT'YS.

(No Model.) a sheetssnm 2.

H. lVI. OLIVER.

FIFTH WHEEL.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. M. OLIVER.

FIFTH WHEEL.

No. 391,914. Patented Oct. 30, 1888., Fig-.15

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WITNESSES: INVENTUB: ,Mm/@ M. v

ilniirnio Freres ATENT FFEQEG i HENRY M. OLlfVER, OF NEVARK, NEV JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,914, dated October30, 18ct).

A pplcation iiled September ill, 1687.

Fb @ZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HENRY M. OLIVER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful.

Improvements in Fifth -Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

The object of this invention is to provide a fifth-wheel forwagons,whichis so constructed as to be much stronger than those in use, and which,because of its construction, may be more easily repaired, and which alsowill last much longer in use.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which similar lettersof reference indicate correspoudingpartsin each of the views, isillustrated my improved iifth-wheel, Figure l illustrating the same inside elevation. Fi g. 2 is a section of the sa1ne,takcn longitudinallyand centrally through the head-block and axlebed. Fig. 3 is a similarview taken transversely and centrally through the head-block andaxle-bed on the line fc, Fig. 25 and Figs. l and 5 are sections taken,respectively, through the lines y and e in Figs. 2 and 3. On Sheet 2Fig. 6 is a plan of the fth-wheel and a portion of the reaches, thespring being removed. Fig. 7 is a plan of the upper portion of thefrfth-wheel- Fig. S is a plan-of the lower portion of the same. p Figs.9 and 1() are respectively an enlarged side elevation and section of thepin-receiving socket. Fig. 11 is a section taken through a,Fig. 10,andFig. 12 is a. section taken through o, Fig. 6, showing one method ofholding the upper and lower` portion of the fifth-wheel in engagement;and Figs. 13 and 11i are sectional views illustrating otherconstructions of securing the same resalts. On Sheet 8 Fig. 15 is asection similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but illustrating a form ofconstruction in which the headblock and upper portion of thelilith-wheel are cast in one piece. Fig. 1G is a plan of the fifthwheelwhen constructed as shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a section taken throughthe outer Serial No. 250,296. (No model.)

portion of the fifth-wheel in the direction of ai, Fig. 1G, and Fig. 18is a section taken through .r on Fig. 1G.

In said views, a indicates the head-block, upon which rests the springthat supports the body of the wagon, and which, as illustrated in Figs.l, 2, the., is secured te the upper portion of the fifth-wheel. I)indicates the axlebed, which is bolted to the axle t', and to which issecured upon the top thereof the lower portion of the fifth-wheel. Thefifthwheel proper consists of the upper and lower portions, c d, whichrest and turn one upon the other, rotating upon a centrally-arrangedpivot, which will be described more in detail hereinafter.

As illustrated in the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive,the lower portion ol'l the -tifth-wheel consists of the circular portiond, provided with slots d therein, and the centrally-arranged bar orplate di, having in the center thereof a socket, d, which receives thelower end of the pivotal pin c, and is also provided with bolt-reeeivingianges d", to which are secured the bolts d, which hold the said lowerportion of the fifth-wheel firmly upon the top of the axle-bed b, asindicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. d are the heads of the bolts whichsecure said lower portion of the fifth-wheel to the axle-bed and axle,as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4.

As illustrated in said ligures above referred to, the upper portion ofthe fifth-wheel consists of the annular portion c, which correspends toand rests upon the annular portion d, and is provided with acentrally-arranged plate, c', and with a socket, c2, corresponding inposition with the socket di* on the lower portion of the fifth-wheel,and which receives the upper end of the pivotal pin e, and has alsobolt-receiving lugs c, through which pass the bolts c4, which secure thespring s and head-block a to the upper portion, c, of the fifth-wheel.The reach-irons c5 extend from the central plate, c, to the annularportion c, and thence project backward therefrom, being formedintegrally with said plate o and annular portion c, asindicatedparticularlyin Fig. 7.

The bolts o, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 12, pass through the slots d inthe lower portion ofthe fifth-wheel and serve to held the upper' IOO andlower portions together, at the same time permitting the desired amountof movement of t-he parts of the fifth-wheel. This, however, is but oneof several constructions which I have devised, and which are illustratedin the drawings, for accomplishing the same purpose.

The construction shown in Fig. 13 consists of downwardly-projectingflanges ci, between which the lower portion, d, is arranged andjournaled in said downwardly projecting ilanges. Beneath the said lowerportion, d, is a roller, 08, upon which the said portion d rests andmoves.

In the construction shown in Fig. 18, instead of the roller cg, is showna plate, c,which supports the lower portion, d, and which is secured tothe portion c by bolts c1", which pass through the downwardly-projcctingflanges c7.

It will be noticed by reference to the drawings that these severaldevices for holding the upper and lower portions of the fifth-wheeltogether are applied thereto only at one pointnamely, at C11- althoughthey may be increased,

if desired; but according to the preferred construction but one of saidretaining` devices is used, and on the other side of the iifth-wheel,diametrically opposite to said retaining device,is an arm, f, which issecured to the axle or to a plate, b2, secured to the under side of theaxle and through which the bolts d5 pass, substantially as indicated inFig. 3. The end of said arm,which is attached to the upper and lowerportions of the fifth-wheel, is formed as indicated in said Fig. 3,having downWard1yprojecting flanges f', between which are held theportions c and d of the fifth-wheel, and through the said end of the armfand both portions of the fth-wheel passes the boltf, which, as thusconstructed, is similar` to the construction already described, and asshown in Fig. 12.

In Fig. 17 is shown a construction in which the arm f passes beneath thelower portion of the fifth-wheel and is secured to the upper porltion,c, by bolts similar to the construction shown in Fig. 1S. The purpose ofthis arm is to steady the fifth-wheel and prevent any undue movement and`friction of the parts.

As hereinbefore already indicated, the upper and lower portions of thefifthwheel turn upon a centrally-arranged pin, e, which rests in thesockets d and c2, and is used instead of the king-bolt which ordinarilybinds the parts of the fifth-wheel together. As indicated in Figs. 2 and3, the pin is provided with a groove, e', and passing through the socketd3 and said groove is apin, e, which retains the said pivotal pin ewithin the sockets. If desirable, the socket d3 itself may be grooved,as indicated in Fig. 10, and the said pin pass through the socket cZ andthrough said groove, as indicated in said Figs. 10 and 11.

To reduce the wear and friction of the parts, a hardened screw, e, isarranged in the bottom of the socket'd, as indicated in Fig. 2, and uponsaid screw the point of the pivotal pin bears and turns. The pin, beingmade of' steel, receives the wear of the moving parts, and hence is moredurable, and, being surrounded and incased in the metal sockets, is notliable to become loosened and to rattle, as is the case with theordinary king-bolt.

In Fig. 15 is indicated a forni of construction in which the head-blockis east integrally with the upper portion of the fifth-wheel. Vhen thusconstructed, a socket, a', is preferably formed on the reach-irons toreceive the ends ofthe wooden reaches, and on the opposite side of thesaid head-block are projections cast therewith and formed in imitationof the ends of the wooden reaches c, which, according to the aboveconstructions, pass through and beyond the wooden head-block. In thisconstruction the upper portions of the fifth-wheel, the head-block, andthe reach-irons are all cast in one piece. By virtue of suchconstruction these several parts, which have heretofore been formedseparately and bolted together, are rendered much more durable, and canbe applied to the wagon with but comparatively little labor. Vhen thehead-piece and upper fifth-wheel are in this manner cast in one piece, asocket corresponding to the socket c2 is formed or cast therein toreceive the end of the pin e, or a block, c2, is arranged therein, asindicated in Fig. 15.

It will be understood that the exact constructions herein l-shown may bevaried, and that 'the central pin is designed to be used with any formof rotating portions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is* 1. The combination,in a fifth-wheel, ofthe upper and lower rotating portions, c and (l,having pin-receiving sockets c2 d, an independently-arranged pin, e, insaid sockets, axle b, an arm, f, secured to a plate, b", on the underside of said axle by bolts d5, said arm extending out and passing overthe upper rotating portion, c, and provided with downwardly-projectingianges f', between which said upper and lower rotating portions areheld, and a bolt, f2, passing through an opening in the upper rotatingportion, and a slot, d', in the lower rotating portion, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

2. In a fifth-wheel consisting of the upper fifth-wheel or portionhaving reach-irons and head-block cast in one piece, sockets formedintegrally on said head-block to receive the reaches, and a lowerrotating portion, said upper rotating portion being provided with apin-socket, c2, and a block, a2, the lower rotating portion having apin-receiving socket, d3, closed at its lower end, a pivotal pin, e,arranged in said sockets and bearing against said block c2, and thelower socket thereby forming a pivot on which said rotating portionsturn, and a lockingpin, e3, all of said parts being arranged asspecified.

3. In afifth-wheel, in combination, the upper rotating portion thereofprovided with a piirsocket, c2, closed at its upper end, the

Iower ro'tatinfT uortion havin@ a )inreeeivin 'a hardened )in e"inserted in the bottom 2 l b 1 Y g socket d" closed at its lower end a)ivotal thereof and a nvotal )1n e arran ed 111 said 1 a 7' I 7 I a a 1pln, e, arranged and bearlng 1n said sockets, sockets and bearlng onsald pin e", for the purthereby forming a pivot on which said rotatposesset forth. 15 5 ing portions turn7 and a looking-pin, e, all VIntestunony that I claim the invention set said parts being1 arranged forthe purposes set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this forth.14th day of September, 1887.

4. In a 'Fifth-wheel, in combination, the up- IIENRY M. OLIVER. perrotating portion7 c, provided with a pin- Wvitnesses: l ro socket, c,the lower rotating portion, d, hav- FREDK. F. CAMPBELL,

ing a pin-receiving socket, di, provided with FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL.

